Telescopic valise



G. T, GONINE. TBLESGOPIG VALISB.

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

No. 566,663. l Patented, Aug. 25, 1896.

Canine. l/ t (No Model.) v 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. G. T. GONINE.

TELESGOPIC VALISB.

No. 566,663. Patented Aug. 25, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT einen.

TELESCOPIC VALlSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,663, dated August25, 1896.

Application filed January 15,1896. Serial Nol 575,643. (No model.)

and analogous packing-cases in which the top or lid of the valise,trunk, or other case is constructed to slide telescopically upon thebody of the case in opening orclosing the same and to increase ordiminish its carrying capacity. In extension packing-cases of thischaracter, Whether portable by hand or not, it is desirable to providesimple, inexpensive, and readily-adjustable props for supporting the lidor top of the case at varying heights, according to the bulk of contentsplaced in the valise or packingcase and so that none of the packedarticles Will be subjected to crushing from Weight or pressure of thelid, especially when it is fastened down.

It is among the objects of my invention to arrange thevertically-adjustable lid props or supports in the corners of thepacking-case body so that the lid Will be supported uniformly at each ofthese points also to provide for each corner-prop a guideway that willat the same time materially brace and strengthen the corners of thepacking-case body, which body is often made altogether from light andsomewhat flexible material.

Further, it is an object of my invention to furnish in direct connectionwith each adj ustable corner-prop and its guideway a very simple andinexpensive fastening that Will not be liable to get out of order; and,furthermore, it is another purpose of my improve ments to so locate andarrange the lid-props that they will be accessible for ready adjustmentafter the valise, trunk, or case is packed Without disturbing any of itscontents.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure lis avertical longitudinal section of a telescopic valise or packing-caseprovided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan of the packing-case withlid removed. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through one corner of thepacking-oase. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through one corner of thevalise-body,

lid-prop, guide, and adjustable propfastening. Fig. 5 is a view of anadjustable lidprop detached. Fig. G is a view of one of the plates tobrace the corners of the valise-body and provide a guideway and keeperfor the lid-prop. Fig. 7 is a viewillustrating a modification in theforni and attachment of a springfastening for an adjustable lid-prop.Fig. S illustrates another modification in the adjustment of the prop.

The valise-body l and its lid or cover 2 may be made from any suitableand, preferably, light material. ln telescopic or extensible articles ofthis character the body and lid are usually made of light material, suchas pasteboard or the like, covered with canvas, or of light leather orother iiexible material not adapted to withstand external pressure, andconsequently7 the valise and its contents are ordinarily liable toinjury from crushing. It is one of the purposes of my invention to avoidthis objection. To this end the vertically-adjustable lidprops 3 andtheir guide- Ways 4 are arranged in the corners ofthe valise orpacking-case, Where they will materially assist in bracing andstrengthening both the body and the lid of the case.

The lidprops 3 are preferably constructed as metal bars, though theymaybe made from hard Wood. There is diagonally placed in each corner ofthe packing-case body 1 a vertically-elongated metal guide-plate 4,having along each vertical edge a lip or ilange 5, through which thesaid plate is secured by rivets 6 tothe end and side Walls of thepacking-case or valise body.

As shown in Figs. 1,4, and 5, the verticallyadjustable lid-props 3mayveach be provided with a series of portera-tions 7, adapted to engagea locking pin or stud 8, Figs. 3, 4, and G, carried by a spring 9,attached to one side of the corner-plate 4. In theconstructionillustrated by Figs. l to 6 the spring 9 is attached to the plate 4 by arivet l0 at or near the lower end of the spring, and in the upperportion of the plate 4 there is provided a suitable opening for passageof the locking pin or stud 8 to permit its engagement in some one of thelocking-perforations 7 of the vertically-adjustable prop.

For the purpose of holding the verticallymovable prop 3 close to thecorner guide- IOO plate 4 there is provided on said plate ka keeper 12,Figs. 3, 4, and 6, which can be cheaply formed by stamping out a portionof the plate 4, as shown. By providing a keeper 12 the prop 3 will bemaintained in vertical position close to the guide-plate 4, so that theby the fingers for lifting the prop to any elevation required within itsappropriate range l To prevent a prop from being I drawn wholly vout ofits guideway, the lower? end of each prop may be formed with a lug ofmovement.

or bend 15 to abut against the under edge of the keeper 12, which willthereby retain the prop and prevent its entire withdrawal when raised toits highest required elevation.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be observed that the locking pin or stud3 is beveled on its under portion, so that it will readily click back,with the yielding of the spring 9, to permit disengagement and upwardmovement of the prop 3 when it is desired to adj ust the Vprops Aforincreasing the capacity of the valise In lifting aprop 3 the conorpacking-case. stant pressure of the pin or stud 8 thereon, under tensionof the spring 9, will cause immediate lockingrengagement of the prop andpin as soon -as the upward movement of. the prop is arrested with, one-of its perfora-` tions 7 opposite the 'spring-carried looking pin orstud. When the props 3 are at rest at Vany required degree of elevationwith a perforation 7 of each prop in engagement with its appropriatelocking pin or stud 8, each prop vwill aiord a firm support for onecornery ofthe telescopic lid or cover, so that its weight or pressurecannot come upon the articles contained in the packing-case or valise.

If desired, there may be fastened in each corner of the lid or cover 2 ametal wearplat'e or buffer 16, Fig. 1, each in position for bearingcontact with the head 14 of a prop 3 to protect the corner of the lidfrom injury, especially 'if the lid is constructed of light or somewhatfrail material, as usual.

When it is desired to lower the props 3 for the purpose of diminishingthe capacity of the valise or packing-case, it will be necessary towithdraw the locking-pin 8 of each prop, and for this purpose there maybe provided on each spring 9, near its upper end, a small handle or knob17, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, which will enable the springs 9 to be readilyretracted a suflicient distance to disengage the several locking pins orstuds 3 from the perforations 7 of the respective props, whereupon theycan be easily pushed down to change their adjustment and decrease theshifting it slightly sidewise.

packing-space of the valise, as required. The knobs 17 are placed on theupper ends of the springs 9, so that they are readily accessible at thetop of the packing-case body when the lid or cover is removed. Eachspring 9 is of such tension or strength as to hold its attached lockingpin or stud 8 firmly in one of the prop-perforations 7 without liabilityof being jolted or jarred out of place.

There is illustrated in Fig. 7 a modification in the form and attachmentof the springs 9 for locking the vertically-adjustable props. In thisconstruction the lower portion of each corner guide-plate4 is stampedout or otherwise formed with a pair of transverse slots 18 and anintermediate offsettingnportion 19, constituting, with said slots andadjacent body portions of the plate 4, a friction-clasp for firmlyholding a narrowed lower portion or attaching-tongue 2O ofthe spring.The lower portion of the spring 9, in this case, may be formed withshoulders 21 to limit its insertion into the friction-clasp, and belowsaid clasp it may have a transverse bend 22,

' that will prevent its withdrawal after proper attachment. The lockingpin or stud 3 may be formed directly on the upper end of Vthe spring,and the knob or handle 17, before described, `may be omitted, as theupper portion of the spring will afford sufficient hold for the .fingersin effecting withdrawal of the pin or stud to permit lowering the prop.

In Fig. 8 is vshown a construction in which the perforations of the4prop are dispensed with, and also the spring 'and locking-pin thereon.For the purpose of obtaining a vertical'adjustmentof the corner-props inthis form of construction, each prop .may carry a headed pin or stud 23,normally engaged in a vertical slot 24, with which each cornerguide-plate 4 may be provided. The verticallyelongated slot 24communicates at intervals with a series of vnotches or short slots 25,with either of which the headed pin or stud 23 may be readily engaged byraising or lowering the vertically movable prop and Any requiredadjustment can be thus imparted'to the vertically-movable corner-propsaccording to the height at which itis desired to support the lid orcover -to vary the capacity of the valise or packing-case.

To secure the lid of this Apacking-case or valise the 'usual straps maybe provided or any other suitable fastenings.

In adjusting the vertically-movable props 3 to support the lid or cover2 lat any required elevation for increasing or decreasing the capacityof ya valise or packing-case it will not be necessary to at all disturbwhatever may have been already placed within vthe body portion of thecase. By means of their heads 14 the props 3 are each readily accessiblefrom the open top of the case to permit lifting each prop, and should'it be required to manipulate the springs 9, for permitting a loweringof the props, the upper ends of said IIO springs, or their knobs 17, arealso Within easy reach from the top. The location of the props 3 andtheir guide-plates 4 in the corners of the valise-body affords theimportant advantage of bracing' and strengthening the packing-case atthe very points Where such additional strength is most required, and bythis arrangement also the support for the elevated lid or cover 2 ismore equally distributed. The props and their means for adjustment areof a very simple and inexpensive character, so that the cost of a valiseprovided with the described attachments Will not be greatly increased.

What I claim as my invention isl. In a telescopic valise orpacking-case, the vertically-sliding and adjustable lid-props located inthe corners of the valise or packing-case body, whereby they are adaptedto also brace the corners of the packing-case and its lid or cover, incombination with means for locking said props at required elevations,substantially as described.

2. In a telescopic valise or packing-case, the combination withvertically-adjustable lid-props, of guide-plates for said props locatedin the corners of the packing-case body, and means for locking` saidprops at required elevations to vary the capacity of the packing-case,substantially as described.

3. In a telescopic valise or packing-case, the combination ofguide-plates secured vertically in the corners of the valise orpackingcase body and adapted to brace the same, ,verticallyadj ustablelid-props located in said corners adjacent to said guide plates and eachprovided With a series of perforations, and/springs attached to saidguide-plates and provided with locking pins or studs to engage theperiorations of said vertically-adjustable props and support them atrequired elevations to vary the capacity of the packingcase,substantially as described.

4. In a telescopic valise or packing-case, the combination withvertically-adjustable lid-props, of vertical guide-plates for said propslocated in the corners of the valise-body and adapted to brace thesaine, means for locking said props at required elevations, andWear-plates secured in the corners of the valise lid or cover forcontact with the upper ends of said vertically-adjustable props,substantially as described.

5. In a telescopic valise or packing-case, the combination withvertically-adjustable lid-props each having` a series ot' perforationsand each provided at its upper end with a head and at its lower end witha stoplug, of vertically-arranged guide-plates secured in the corners ofthe packing-case or valise-body and each provided with a keeper for oneof said props, and springs having locking pins or studs to engage theperforations of the props to support the said props at requiredelevations, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing Witnesses.

GAMALIEL T. CONINE. llfitnesses:

J. A. Connor, JAS. H. DE PUE.

